Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-01
CoLUMBIA GARDENS.
How They Look and What They VIII
Appear when Completed.

A goodly number of people took advant-
age OF the beautiful weather yesterday to
visit the Columbia Gardens. which we're
opened to visitors for the first time this
year. In company with another gentleman
q representative of The MINER took a spin
out there. As soon as such streets as Park
and Main in the central part of town were
passed, the dust commenced to be q very
decided nuisance when passing other teams.
But although, . cool breeze was gently
blowing from the north, it was not in suffi-
Gent strength to raise dust clouds. and so
really not much Inconvenience was suffered
from this cause. The roads are in very
fine condition. hard and free OF ruts. When
crossing the fats utter leaving Silver Bow
mill, the road il as firm and free from dust
as any sensible person could expect. Thu
gentlemen who have the disposal OF the
county's finances are at present in doubt
soon al they have made up their minds on
this point they could not undertake q public
work that would afford more general salts
faction and give more comfort than by
turning their attention to dwelling and
grading the roads, for to ride along q road
which slopes at an angle Of even ten degrees
disturbs ones equanimity more or less
seriously.
Equipages of all kinds were pressed into
services yesterday to take pleasure-seekers
into the country. Quite q number were
ercise-walking. The air was pure and
bracing, but the sun poured down his rays
unobscured by b least cloud the entire
day, and what grass was visible looked
green and inviting. Not much in the way
OF trees can be seen until the canyon is en-
tered, up which the gardens are situated,
and here the willows are beginning to show
signs Of reviving. q J IS
The gardens are still pretty much in q
state of nature. Chris. Dellen has had the
place only q few days, and beyond putting
grounds, dwelling q place for . bowling al
ley, putting up shooting targets and setting
out here and. there some rough board
benches and tables, has had no time to do
himself justice. Not much can be done
this year. he says, except lay the plans and
make the beginnings for improvements
which he will carry on from year to year,
until the place at q future day will be a
garden in reality. A great deal has to be
done in the way Of draining alone, and this
is one of the frat things to which he will
turn his attention. -
q But the dance hall is there intact. and
yesterday sets of perspiring humanity went
upon the floor at every call and danced
with as much vim and apparently as much
enjoyment a. though the thermometer
were IS instead of S5. Orton's band was
there in full force, and with their inspiring
strains no properly-minded young man or
woman would refrain from responding in
due form. $50 "...
There were amusements for the children
in the way Of swings. Two booths erected
nm %h~ >0<~ nh4lnl k14 lauo%Nno -LSfa
shaking their thirst at the fount of Gam
brinus. Chris. was thoughtful for the chill
dren, too, in providing In ice-cream stand
where the CONCEALED nectar could be en-
joyed by those given to that toothsome
but tootchy delicacy.
The visit ors began to arrive after the
band got there which it did after parading
the streets Of the city first and whooping
up as much excitement almost al q circus
wagon. As the day wore on visitors be-
came more plentiful and by evening it was
expected the majority of those who we're
coming would be present.
Some Of the demi-monde rode out in
state and were about to enter the precincts
and lningle with the throng, but Chris set
his foot or that and told the would-be in
truders that they had no place there. This
is eminently proper aud will benefit the
rotund proprietor in the long run far more
the temporary loss of custom. When
every man feels certain chat he can take
his wife and family there with the certainty
that the presence of none but respectable
persons will be knowingly permitted, a great
step is taken in making the gardens a
desirable place of resort.
The trees about the place are showing
their leaves; tender leaflets they are,
rather. There il a vigorous underground
of q willow description, but this will be
trained in bowers and alleys cut through
them, making pleasantly shaded walks in
the daytime, and equally pleasant places
moonlight. or the lantern-light. OF course
such a garden would be but half u resort if
there were no lanterns, and of these the
proprietor of the garden will lay in a
bountiful supply.
The brooklet that runs through the
grounds performs at present the duties OF
an icehouse in keeping the reserve kegs of
beer cool until wanted. But it hat anoth-
or use. At the lower end of the place it is
damned up, and forms q small pond upon
" hich a boat can actually float, and in
gleeful children can get upset in dar-
ing navigation escapades on boards with
out the danger and discomfort OF brown
ing. In this respect it will be q successful
of Lake Como, that laps the walls OF
that rather unromantic structure, the Par
rot smelter, upon which ZONE hardy navi-
gators were daring fortune in an open sail
boat yesterday.
In about another month or two, the gar
dens will begin to assume shape in the di.
rection intended by their protector, but, at
present, candor cOmpels the statement
that they are only gardens in embryo.